Sans x Kel

Chapter 1: Shadows and Echoes

The small town of Faraway buzzed with the gentle hum of a typical summer afternoon. The sun shone brightly, casting a golden hue over everything it touched, from the blades of grass to the rooftops of houses that lined the quiet streets. The cicadas sang their timeless song, an echo of summers past and a promise of those yet to come.

Kel, with his ever-enthusiastic demeanor, was dribbling a basketball down the street. The familiar rhythm of the ball bouncing off the pavement was almost therapeutic, a constant in the midst of all the changes happening around him. His friends were scattered, each dealing with their own struggles, but Kel had always been the glue, the one who held onto the good times and kept the spirit of their group alive.

As he turned the corner, heading towards the park, something unusual caught his eye. It was a figure standing by the old swing set, but it wasn't anyone he recognized. The figure was short, dressed in a blue hoodie and black shorts, with a permanent, almost lazy grin on their face. Their eyes—or rather, the lack thereof—seemed to peer directly into Kel's soul.

Curiosity piqued, Kel approached the stranger. "Hey there! You new around here?" he called out, his voice full of friendly energy.

The figure turned to face him, the grin never wavering. "hey," they replied, their voice deep and somehow both relaxed and unsettling. "name's sans. just moved in. figured i'd take a look around."

Kel's brow furrowed slightly. There was something...off about this Sans, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Nice to meet you, Sans! I'm Kel. So, where are you from?"

Sans chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "far from here, you could say. but enough about me. what's a kid like you doin' out here all alone?"

Kel shrugged, tossing the basketball into the air and catching it. "Just playing some ball, you know? Trying to keep busy. Things have been kinda weird lately."

"weird, huh?" Sans echoed, his grin widening. "i get that. sometimes, weird's all we got."

There was a moment of silence, the kind that stretches on just a bit too long, making everything seem more surreal. Kel could feel a strange connection forming, a sense of understanding between them, despite the odd circumstances.

"So, you play any basketball?" Kel asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Sans shrugged. "never really tried. but i'm up for anything. got nothin' but time."

Kel grinned, handing the ball over. "Alright then, let's see what you got!"

Sans took the ball, examining it as if it were some foreign object. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it towards the hoop. To Kel's surprise, the ball soared through the air and landed perfectly, swishing through the net without even touching the rim.

"Wow, nice shot!" Kel exclaimed, genuinely impressed. "Beginners luck?"

Sans chuckled again. "guess i'm just full of surprises."

As the afternoon wore on, the two of them played game after game, laughter and light-hearted banter filling the air. It was as if the worries of the world had melted away, leaving only the joy of the moment.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the park, Kel and Sans sat on the swings, catching their breath.

"you know," Sans said, his voice quieter now, more contemplative. "this place... it's got a lot of memories, doesn't it?"

Kel nodded, a pang of sadness piercing his heart. "Yeah. It does. Good ones and bad ones. But that's life, right?"

"right," Sans agreed. "life's a mix of it all. the trick is to keep moving forward, no matter what."

Kel smiled, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over him. Maybe Sans was right. Maybe all they could do was keep moving forward, embracing the weird and the wonderful alike.

As night fell and the stars began to twinkle in the sky, Kel realized that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in his life. And with Sans by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came next, one step—and one shot—at a time.